JP4798719B2 - Compression member, ultrasonic probe, and ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a compression member, an ultrasonic probe, and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, and relates to a technique for improving the accuracy of an elastic image representing the hardness and softness of a biological tissue of a subject by compressing the subject.

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus repeatedly transmits ultrasonic waves to a subject via a probe abutted on the subject at time intervals, receives time-series reflected echo signals generated from the subject, This is an apparatus for obtaining a tomographic image, for example, a black and white B-mode image based on a reflected echo signal.
In such an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus, the displacement of the biological tissue of the subject is measured based on a time-series reflected echo signal generated from the subject, and elasticity information such as the hardness and softness of the biological tissue is measured from the measured displacement. There has been proposed a technique for obtaining a color elastic image from the obtained elasticity information by obtaining strain, elastic modulus, and the like (for example, see Patent Document 1).
JP 2005-66041 A

However, when the uniformity of the stress field generated inside the tissue is low, the compressed tissue escapes to a weakly compressed region. In addition, this escape prevents the stress from reaching the deep region. For these reasons, noise may occur in the elastic image. Therefore, the area area of the elastic image that can be normally acquired even with uniform compression is reduced, and the efficiency of image diagnosis is reduced.
In (Patent Document 1), a flat compression plate is attached to the probe so that a wide area of the subject can be compressed uniformly, but the same problem still occurs in the end region of the compression plate. There is potential for further improvement with regard to the compression plate.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to obtain a highly accurate elastic image so that the subject can be uniformly compressed.

  In order to solve the above problems, the compression member of the present invention is formed as follows. That is, a compression member that is detachably attached to the ultrasonic probe and compresses the subject, a first member that transmits a compression force to the subject in a direction parallel to the compression direction; And a second member that transmits a compression force in a direction different from the compression direction.

Moreover, in order to solve the said subject, the ultrasonic probe of this invention is comprised as follows. That is, a compression part that compresses the subject is provided, and the compression part transmits a compression force in a direction different from the compression direction to the first member that transmits the compression force to the subject in a direction parallel to the compression direction. And a second member.
Moreover, in order to solve the said subject, the ultrasonic diagnosing device of this invention is comprised as follows. That is, an ultrasonic probe having an ultrasonic transmission / reception surface that repeatedly transmits ultrasonic waves to a subject and receives a time-series reflected echo signal corresponding to the transmission of the ultrasonic waves, and a time-series reflected echo signal A tomographic image forming unit that forms a tomographic image of a biological tissue of the subject based on the elasticity, and an elasticity that forms an elastic image by measuring the displacement of the biological tissue of the subject based on a time-series reflected echo signal An image construction unit, a display unit for displaying an image composed of a tomographic image construction unit and an elastic image construction unit, the ultrasonic probe comprises a compression unit for compressing the subject, and the compression unit A first member that transmits a compression force in a direction parallel to the compression direction to the specimen, and a second member that transmits a compression force in a direction different from the compression direction are provided.

  According to the compression member, the ultrasonic probe, and the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to compress the subject uniformly, so that a highly accurate elastic image can be acquired. Thereby, image diagnosis can be performed efficiently.

FIG. 5 is a view for explaining the shape of a compression plate according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining a state where the compression plate according to the first embodiment of the present invention is attached to a probe. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining another possible structure of the compression plate according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining another possible shape of the compression plate according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining first and second embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining third and fourth embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a fifth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a sixth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a seventh embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining an eighth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a ninth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a ninth embodiment of the present invention. It is a figure which shows the whole block diagram of embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating a prior art example.

First, an example of an ultrasonic probe to which the present invention is applied (hereinafter abbreviated as “probe”) and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a probe and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus to which the present invention is applied.
As shown in FIG. 10, the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus 1 includes a probe 10 that is used in contact with the subject 5, and repeats ultrasound with a time interval between the subject and the subject via the probe 10. Transmitter 12 for transmitting, receiver 14 for receiving time-series reflected echo signals generated from the subject, and phased addition for generating RF signal frame data in time series by phasing and adding the received reflected echoes A portion 16 is provided.

  Further, based on the RF signal frame data from the phasing adder 16, a tomographic image forming unit 18 that forms a tomographic image of the subject, for example, a black and white tomographic image, and the RF signal frame data of the phasing adder 16 from the RF signal frame data of the subject. An elasticity image constructing unit 20 is provided that measures the displacement of the living tissue and obtains elasticity data to construct a color elasticity image. An image composition unit 22 that combines the monochrome tomographic image and the color elastic image, and an image display unit 24 that displays the combined image are provided.

The probe 10 is formed by disposing an acoustic lens and a plurality of transducers, and has a function of electronically performing beam scanning and transmitting / receiving ultrasonic waves to the subject via the transducers. . Further, as described below, the probe 10 is used with a compression plate attached thereto, or the probe 10 includes a compression plate.
The transmission unit 12 has a function of generating a transmission pulse for generating an ultrasonic wave by driving the probe 10 and setting a convergence point of the transmitted ultrasonic wave to a certain depth. The receiver 14 amplifies the reflected echo signal received by the probe 10 with a predetermined gain to generate an RF signal, that is, a received signal.
The phasing addition unit 16 inputs the RF signal amplified by the reception unit 14 and performs phase control, and forms an ultrasonic beam at one point or a plurality of convergence points to generate RF signal frame data.

  The tomographic image configuration unit 18 includes a signal processing unit 30 and a monochrome scan converter 32. Here, the signal processing unit 30 receives the RF signal frame data from the phasing addition unit 16 and performs signal processing such as gain correction, log compression, detection, contour enhancement, and filter processing to obtain tomographic image data. is there. The monochrome scan converter 32 includes an A / D converter that converts the tomographic image data from the signal processing unit 30 into a digital signal, a frame memory that stores a plurality of converted tomographic image data in time series, and a control controller. It is comprised including. The monochrome scan converter 32 acquires tomographic frame data in the subject stored in the frame memory by the control controller as one image, and converts the acquired tomographic frame data into a signal for reading out in synchronization with the television. is there.

  The elastic image construction unit 20 includes an RF signal selection unit 34, a displacement measurement unit 35, a pressure measurement unit 36, an elastic data calculation unit 37, an elastic signal processing unit 38, and a color scan converter 39. The phasing adder 16 is branched to the subsequent stage.

  The RF signal selection unit 34 includes a frame memory and a selection unit. The RF signal selection unit 34 stores a plurality of RF signal frame data from the phasing addition unit 16 in a frame memory, and selects one set, that is, two RF signal frame data from the stored RF signal frame data group by the selection unit. It is what you choose. For example, the RF signal selection unit 34 sequentially stores the RF signal frame data generated based on the time series, that is, the frame rate of the image, from the phasing addition unit 16 in the frame memory, and in response to a command from the control unit 26 The currently stored RF signal frame data (N) is selected as the first data by the selection unit, and at the same time, the RF signal frame data group (N−1, N−2, N−3. One RF signal frame data (X) is selected from (NM). Here, N, M, and X are index numbers attached to the RF signal frame data, and are natural numbers.

  The displacement measuring unit 35 obtains a displacement of a living tissue from a set of RF signal frame data. For example, the displacement measurement unit 35 performs one-dimensional or two-dimensional correlation processing from a set of data selected by the RF signal selection unit 34, that is, RF signal frame data (N) and RF signal frame data (X), and A one-dimensional or two-dimensional displacement distribution relating to the displacement and displacement vector corresponding to each point of the image, that is, the direction and magnitude of the displacement is obtained. Here, for example, a block matching method is used to detect the displacement vector. The block matching method divides an image into blocks consisting of N × N pixels, for example, focuses on the block in the region of interest, searches the previous frame for the block that most closely matches the block of interest, and refers to this Then, predictive encoding, that is, processing for determining the sample value by the difference is performed.

  The pressure measurement unit 36 measures and estimates the body cavity pressure at the diagnosis site of the subject 5. For example, a pressure measuring unit having a pressure sensor is attached to the probe 10 or the compression plate used in contact with the body surface of the subject, and the head of the probe 10 and the compression plate are pressurized. By reducing the pressure, a stress distribution is given in the body cavity of the diagnosis site of the subject. At this time, in any time phase, the pressure sensor measures and holds the pressure applied to the body surface by the probe head and the compression plate.

  The elasticity data calculation unit 37 calculates the strain and elastic modulus of the living tissue corresponding to each point on the tomographic image from the measurement value from the displacement measurement unit 35, for example, the pressure value from the pressure measurement unit 36, An elastic image signal, that is, elastic frame data is generated based on strain and elastic modulus.

  At this time, the strain data is calculated by spatially differentiating the movement amount of the living tissue, for example, the displacement. The elastic modulus data is calculated by dividing the change in pressure by the change in moving amount. For example, assuming that the displacement measured by the displacement measuring unit 35 is ΔL and the pressure change measured by the pressure measuring unit 36 is ΔP, the strain (S) can be calculated by spatially differentiating ΔL. = ΔL / ΔX It is calculated | required using the type | formula. Further, Young's modulus is known as an elastic modulus corresponding to strain, and this Young's modulus Ym is calculated by the equation Ym = (ΔP) / (ΔL / L). In other words, the Young's modulus is the ratio between the simple pressure applied to the object and the strain per unit length in the pressing direction. Since the elastic modulus of the living tissue corresponding to each point of the tomographic image is obtained from this Young's modulus Ym, two-dimensional elastic image data can be obtained continuously.

  The elasticity data processing unit 38 includes a frame memory and an image processing unit, stores the elasticity frame data output in time series from the elasticity data calculation unit 37 in the frame memory, and stores the stored frame data. Image processing is performed by the image processing unit in response to a command from the control unit 26.

The color scan converter 39 converts the color information into hue information based on the elastic frame data from the elastic data processing unit 38. That is, the light is converted into the three primary colors of light, that is, red (R), green (G), and blue (B) based on the elastic frame data. For example, elastic data with a large strain is converted into a red code, and elastic data with a small strain is converted into a blue code.
Further, the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention has an accommodating portion for accommodating at least one of the compression plates detachably attached to the probe described below, for example, in the vicinity of the probe holder or on the side of the apparatus. I have. This compression plate housing portion has a shape such as a hook or a box, or a shape like a hook that is held through a hole portion of the compression plate described below, so that the compression plate can be freely put in and out. Anything can be used.

  When imaging an elastic image using the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus as described above, if the uniformity of the stress field generated inside the tissue is low, the compressed tissue escapes to a weakly compressed region, and noise is displayed on the elastic image. May occur. This phenomenon will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 11 is a model diagram in which an object having uniform hardness is pressed using the probe 10. Since the probe 10 has a small area in contact with the subject, that is, a compression area, the displacement vector 504 is directed outward in the region 506. Therefore, the compressed tissue in the center escapes to the uncompressed region, and noise is generated in both side regions 510 of the elastic image displayed on the image display unit 24. In addition, the escape prevents the stress from reaching the deep region, causing noise in the deep region 511 of the elastic image. Therefore, the area area of the elastic image 512 that can be normally acquired even with uniform compression is reduced. That is, the normal region of the elastic image displayed on the image display unit 24 is narrowed. A compression member, a probe, and an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention, which will be described below, solve the problem in the elastic image, and some embodiments thereof will be described in detail.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described. First, the shape of the compression member of this embodiment will be described. The compression member of the present embodiment includes a first member that transmits a compression force to a subject in a direction parallel to the compression direction, and a second member that transmits a compression force in a direction different from the compression direction. It is characterized by comprising.
A preferred form of the second member is, for example, as follows. That is, it is formed to extend to the end portion of the first member. In addition, the direction in which the compression force is transmitted is formed so as to face the central portion of the first member so as to cross the compression direction. From the viewpoint of the subject, it is formed so as to press in a direction that prevents a part of the subject pressed by the first member from being pushed out in a direction different from the pressing direction.
Further, from the viewpoint of the contact surface of the compression member with the subject, the first member has a first surface perpendicular to the compression direction, and the second member is a second perpendicular to the direction different from the compression direction. It has the surface of this. That is, the contact surface is formed such that the vertical direction of at least a part of the surface is different from the vertical direction of the surface of the other part.
Hereinafter, an example in which a member having a plate shape is used as an example of the compression member will be referred to as a compression plate.

  An example of the compression plate of this embodiment is shown in FIG. 1A. 1A (a) is a view of the upper surface of the compression plate 100, FIG. 1A (b) is a view of the lower surface of the compression plate 100, and FIG. 1A (c) is a position indicated by a dashed line A. FIG. 1A (d) is a view of the long axis direction of the cross section of the compression plate 100 at the position indicated by the alternate long and short dash line B. FIG. The compression plate 100 is made of a material such as plastic or polyvinyl. In addition, the compression plate 100 is larger than the dimensions of the probe 10 in the major axis direction and the minor axis direction of the probe 10 so that the subject can be compressed with a larger area than the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface 11 of the probe 10. The end portion has a shape such as a substantially rectangular shape having four rounded corners. Note that the shape of the end of the compression plate may be other shapes, for example, a circle, an ellipse, or a polygon.

The lower surface of the compression plate is a surface in contact with the body surface of the subject. As shown in FIG.1A (b), the lower surface of the compression plate 100 has a flat surface (first surface) 70 at the center, and extends to the end of the flat surface 70 and crosses the flat surface 70. And an inclined surface 71 (second surface). That is, the vertical direction (normal direction) of the inclined surface 71 faces the direction intersecting with the vertical direction (normal direction) of the flat surface 70 (that is, the inclined surface 71 faces the center side of the lower surface of the compression plate). ), The inclined surface 71 is inclined with respect to the flat surface 70. By being formed in this way, the lower surface of the compression plate has a concave shape. The slope 71 may be either a flat surface or a concave surface. Alternatively, a plane and a concave surface may be mixed.
The length of the flat surface 70 of the compression plate 100 in the major axis direction is equal to or longer than the length of the probe 10 in the major axis direction. The angle formed between the slope 71 and the flat surface 70 is in the range of 90 to 180 degrees. Further, the width of the inclined surface 71 may be several mm to several centimeters, which is substantially the same as the width of the probe 10 in the short axis direction, but may be set according to the region of the subject. Similarly, the width of the flat surface 70 from the side surface of the probe 10 to the inclined surface 71 may be several millimeters to several centimeters, but may be set according to the region of the subject.

  The inclined surface 71 may be formed on at least a part of the end portion of the compression plate 100, but is preferably formed on the entire periphery of the end portion of the compression plate 100. In particular, the compression plate 100 shown in FIG. 1A has slopes 71 formed along the axial direction on both sides of the short axis direction and the long axis direction, and is suitable for a linear probe. That is, the inclined surface 71 formed along the short axis direction of the compression plate 100 is inclined with respect to the flat surface 70 so as to face the center side in the long axis direction of the compression plate 100. The inclined surface 71 formed along the major axis direction is inclined with respect to the flat surface 70 so as to face the central portion side of the compression plate 100 in the minor axis direction. The inclined surface 71 may be formed along only one of the short axis direction and the long axis direction of the compression plate 100, or may be formed only on one side in one axial direction. May be.

  In the above example, the example in which the lower surface of the compression plate has a flat surface and an inclined surface has been described, but other shapes are also possible. For example, the lower surface of the compression plate may be formed to have a concave shape in which at least a part thereof smoothly changes. That is, at least one of the flat surface 70 and the inclined surface 71 may be formed to have a concave shape in which at least a part thereof smoothly changes. Or conversely, it may be formed so that at least a part thereof has a convex shape that smoothly changes. That is, at least one of the flat surface 70 and the inclined surface 71 may be formed so as to have a convex shape in which at least a part thereof smoothly changes. Examples of these are shown in FIG. 1D. The example of each compression plate shown in FIG. 1D shows a view of the long axis direction of the cross section in the long axis direction, in which the display of the fixing portion arranged on the upper surface is omitted. The compression plate 100-1 in FIG. 1D (a) is an example in which only the slope 71 has a smooth concave shape, and the compression plate 100-2 in FIG. 1D (b) is a concave surface in which both the flat surface 70 and the slope 71 are smooth. It is an example which becomes a shape and is smoothly connected to each other to form a smooth concave shape as a whole. On the other hand, the compression plate 100-3 in FIG. 1D (c) is an example in which only the slope 71 has a smooth convex shape, and the compression plate 100-4 in FIG. 1D (d) has both the flat surface 70 and the slope 71 smooth. It is an example which becomes a smooth convex shape as a whole by connecting to each other smoothly and forming a smooth convex shape. Any shape can be similarly applied to the direction of the short axis of the compression plate.

  Further, the compression plate 100 is provided with a hole 72 in a part of the compression plate 100 so that the acoustic lens of the probe 10, that is, the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface 11, can be disposed. From this hole 72, the probe 10 transmits and receives ultrasonic waves to the subject. That is, the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface 11 of the probe 10 is configured to be in direct contact with the subject through the hole 72. The hole for arranging the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving surface is preferably formed in the approximate center of the compression plate. In the compression plate 100 shown in FIG. 1A, the hole 72 is formed in the approximate center of the flat portion 70. . Note that the surface of the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface 11 can also be used as at least a part of the flat surface 70. That is, the compression plate 100 may be configured such that the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface 11 forms a part of the flat surface 70 of the compression plate 100. Furthermore, by making the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving surface 11 the flat surface 70, it is possible to configure the compression plate 100 having only the slope 71 without the flat surface 70.

  The upper surface of the compression plate is a surface provided with a fixing portion for detachably mounting the compression plate to the probe. The fixing part has at least one side fixing part that fixes the arrangement position of the probe in the side direction with the probe interposed therebetween, and at least one of the side fixing parts is a probe. It has a fitting part for fitting with at least a part of the side face of the child and fixing the arrangement position of the probe in the insertion direction. With the fixing portion having such a structure, the relative positions in the short axis direction and the long axis direction of the probe and the compression plate are fixed by the side surface fixing portion, and the probe and the probe of the compression plate are fixed by the fitting portion. The relative position in the insertion direction is fixed, and the compression plate is attached to the probe.

  In the example of the fixing portion shown in FIG. 1A, a pair of opposed plates 73 as side surface fixing portions are arranged in the major axis direction and the minor axis direction, respectively, with a hole 72 in which the probe 10 is arranged therebetween. A protrusion 74 as a fitting portion is formed on each hole 72 side of the pair of opposing plates 73-a. The two opposing plates 73 hold the probe 10 disposed in the hole 72 in the major axis direction and the minor axis direction, thereby holding the probe 10 and the compression plate 100 in the minor axis direction. The relative position in the major axis direction is fixed. Further, the protrusion 74 fits into the depression 75 of the probe 10, whereby the relative position of the probe 10 and the compression plate 100 in the probe insertion direction is fixed. If each counter plate 74 is made of a material such as plastic or polyvinyl, for example, the counter plate can be slightly deformed easily with a force of human power to fit the protrusion 74 into the recess 75 of the probe 10. it can. With the fixing portion having the above-described structure, the compression plate 100 can be easily attached to and detached from the probe 10.

  Further, an anti-slip grip for grasping by hand may be provided on the back surface of each counter plate. FIGS. 1C (a) and 1 (b) show structural examples of the non-slip grip. FIGS. 1C (a) and 1 (b) are views of the long axis direction and the short axis direction of the probe 10 to which the compression plate 100 is attached, respectively. The examiner grasps the non-slip grip 76 and presses the subject through the compression plate 100. In order to make it easier to grip the anti-slip grip 76, the back surface of the counter plate 73 may have a concave shape 77 corresponding to the shape of the finger. The anti-slip grip 76 may be on the back surface of at least one counter plate. Further, the anti-slip grip 76 may be omitted only as the concave shape 77 on the back surface of the counter plate.

  In addition, the conventional probe is provided with a protrusion for recognizing the ultrasonic scanning direction, and the fixing portion of the compression plate is detected even when the compression plate is mounted on the probe. It may have a structure for enabling a person to grasp the protrusion. An example of the structure is shown in FIGS. 1C (c) (d). FIG.1C (c) is a diagram showing an example in which one of the opposing plates has a structure covering the projection 77, and the major axis direction (upper diagram) and the minor axis direction of the probe 10 on which the compression plate 100 is mounted. It is the figure which looked at (below figure). In this structure example, the opposing plate 73 that covers the protrusion 77 has a portion 78 protruding outward, so that the examiner can recognize the protrusion 78 as a replacement of the protrusion 77. FIG. 1C (d) is a diagram showing an example in which the opposing plate 73 has a structure that avoids the protrusion 77, and the major axis direction (upper diagram) and the minor axis of the probe 10 to which the compression plate 100 is attached. It is the figure which looked at the direction (lower figure). In this structural example, the opposing plate 73 avoids the protrusion 77 and holds the probe side surface only in the portion between the protrusion 77 and the compression plate 100. Therefore, the examiner can directly recognize the protrusion 77 of the probe.

  Further, the compression plate may be configured such that at least a part thereof is made of a deformable member, and at least a part of the inclined surface of the end part can be deformed into a desired shape. The deformable material can be copper, iron, aluminum or the like. By configuring the compression plate with a deformable member, it is possible to deform the end of the compression plate so as to adapt the inclination angle of the end to the body surface shape of the subject. By using such a compression plate, the examiner can effectively compress the body surface of the subject by deforming the lower surface shape of the compression plate according to the shape of the body surface of the subject. Become. In particular, members (such as plastic and polystyrene) and structures (such as thinning the boundary between the flat part and the end part) that can be easily deformed with a slight force such as compression and whose deformation is within the range of plastic deformation. By doing so, the shape of the lower surface of the compression plate and the inclination angle of the edge slope are deformed automatically following the body surface shape of the subject at the same time as the compression, and the lower surface shape of the compression plate is based on the release of the compression. Will return. As a result, even with the same compression plate, it is possible to flexibly cope with different body surface shapes, so the troublesomeness of replacing the compression plate is reduced and the efficiency of image diagnosis can be further improved.

  Further, the end portion (second member) having the inclined surface may be detachable from the flat portion (first member) having the flat surface. A plurality of types of end portions having different slopes are prepared in advance, and an end portion having a slope that matches the body surface shape of the subject is selected and attached to the flat portion. By using the compression plate configured as described above, it becomes possible to flexibly cope with different body surface shapes of the subject.

Next, a state in which the compression plate is detachably mounted on the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface side of the probe will be described. FIG. 1B shows an example in which the compression plate 100 shown in FIG. 1A is attached to the probe 10. 1B (a) is a view of the long axis direction, and FIG.1B (b) is a view of the short axis direction of the short axis direction cross section at the position indicated by the alternate long and short dash line C. FIG. () Is a perspective view of the lower surface of the compression plate 100 and the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface 11. The two opposing plates 73 in the short axis direction and the long axis direction sandwich the probe 10 so that the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface 11 is disposed in the hole 72 and slightly protrudes from the lower surface of the compression plate 100. The relative position in each direction is fixed between them. Then, the protrusion 74 on the inner side of the opposing plate 73-a is fitted into the recess 75 of the probe 10, thereby fixing the relative position in the insertion direction between the probe and the compression plate. In this way, the compression plate 100 is fixed to the probe 10. Each of the compression plate examples shown in FIGS. 1C and 1D can be similarly attached to the probe 10.
In a state where the compression plate 100 is mounted on the probe 10, the vertical direction of at least a part of the lower surface of the compression plate 100 is different from the vertical direction of the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface 11. For example, the lower surface of the compression plate 100 has a flat surface 70 along the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface 11 and an inclined surface 71 having an angle different from the flat surface 70 with respect to the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface 11. In the example of FIG. 1B, the inclined surface 71 is inclined with respect to the flat surface 70 so as to face the center of the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving surface 11 so that the vertical direction of the inclined surface 71 faces the direction intersecting the vertical direction of the flat surface 70. ing. Further, the flat surface 70 is parallel to the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving surface 11.
In the above description, the example in which the compression plate is detachably attached to the probe has been described. However, the probe may be provided with the various compression plates described above in advance.

Next, the state of displacement of the subject tissue when the subject 5 is compressed using the compression plate 100 as described above will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 (a) is a view of the long axis direction of the probe 10 to which the compression plate 100 is attached, and shows the state of the displacement vector in the tissue compressed by the subject 5. FIG.
Together with the acoustic lens that is the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface 11 using the compression plate 100, the subject 5 is compressed perpendicularly to the surface in contact with the probe 10, and is calculated from the reflected echo signal received by the probe 10. The strain and elastic modulus of the living tissue corresponding to each point on the tomographic image are calculated from the displacement vector indicated by the arrow 102 and the pressure value from the pressure measuring unit 36, and an elastic image signal, that is, based on the strain and elastic modulus, that is, Elastic frame data is generated. Based on the elastic frame data, an elastic image corresponding to the region 104 is displayed on the image display unit 24. It is assumed that the subject 5 has a uniform hardness.

  In this embodiment, by using the compression plate 100, the compression surface area for compressing the subject 5 is increased rather than the subject 5 being compressed by the probe 10 alone. Further, the shape of the compression plate 100 is flat at the center, and the end faces inward (that is, the center side of the probe 10), so the end region 105 has a displacement vector on the inside. That is, it faces in the direction of the center of the probe 10 and is in the same direction as the compression direction in the deep region 106. Further, since the central region is compressed on the inner side (that is, the central portion side of the probe 10) by the displacement vector 102 of the end region 105, the outer region as shown in FIG. Since the tissue is prevented from escaping to the end side), the stress is effectively reached to the deep part.

  Therefore, the compression direction is maintained by the compression plate 100 perpendicular to the surface with which the probe 10 is in contact, and the end region is compressed toward the center side of the probe 10, whereby the image display unit 24 is pressed. The area of the elastic image 108 displayed on the screen becomes wider in the long axis direction of the probe 10. In addition, since a stress sufficient to acquire the elastic image 108 is applied even in the deep part, it is possible to obtain a wide elastic image 108 in the depth direction. In the elastic image 108, in order to make it easy to understand the difference from FIG. 11, the same area numbers are shown in parentheses in the partial areas corresponding to the partial areas 510, 511 and 512 of the elastic image in FIG. ing. That is, by using the compression plate of the present embodiment, a normal elastic image can be obtained in all areas 510 to 512. Therefore, since the elastic image that is normally displayed becomes wide, the image diagnosis can be performed efficiently.

(Second embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 (b) is a view of the long axis direction of the probe 10 to which the compression plate 100 is attached. A compression plate 110 having an arc-shaped lower surface is detachably attached to the probe 10 on the ultrasonic scanning surface side. The difference from the first embodiment is that the compression plate 110 has an arc shape.
The arc-shaped compression plate 110 has a structure in which the inclination angle gradually becomes steeper toward the subject as it goes to the end, and the contact surface with the subject 5 has a concave shape. For example, a compression plate having a concave curved surface as shown in FIG. 1D (b). Therefore, the displacement vector 102 at the end portion is inclined inward (that is, the central portion side of the probe 10) compared to the displacement vector 102 at the central portion.

  Thus, since the central region 111 is compressed inward (that is, the central portion side of the probe 10) by the displacement vector 102 of the end region, the central region 111 is shallow (that is, the probe). The displacement vector 102 is kept perpendicular to the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface 11 also in a portion close to the probe 10 and a deep portion (that is, a portion far from the probe 10). Further, in the regions other than the central region 111, the compression direction displacement vector 102 gradually becomes perpendicular to the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving surface 11 as the region 106 in the deep portion is approached.

Therefore, as in the first embodiment, the elastic image 109 displayed on the image display unit 24 is maintained by maintaining the compression direction perpendicular to the surface with which the probe 10 is in contact over a wide range. The normal region becomes wider in the long axis direction and deep portion direction of the probe 10. In the elastic image 109, in order to make it easy to understand the difference from FIG. 11, the same area numbers are shown in parentheses in the partial areas corresponding to the partial areas 510, 511 and 512 of the elastic image in FIG. ing. Therefore, since the elastic image that is normally displayed is widened, the image diagnosis inside the subject 5 can be performed efficiently.
It should be noted that, as in the first embodiment, the probe may be configured to include the compression plate of this embodiment in advance.

(Third embodiment)
Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b). FIG. 3 (a) is a view of the compression plate 152 for compressing the subject 5 and the major axis direction of the probe 10. FIG. FIG. 3B is a view of the compression plate 152 and the probe 10 viewed from the short axis direction. A detachable flat plate-like compression plate 152 is attached to the probe 10 on the ultrasonic scanning surface side. The difference from the first embodiment and the second embodiment is that the compression plate 152 is flat and has a size suitable for the examination site of the subject 5.

An observation site 150 of the subject 5 indicates, for example, a breast. The compression plate 152 has a size suitable for the observation site 150, and the surface area of the compression surface is larger than when the probe 10 is compressed by both the long axis and the short axis.
If there is no compression plate, the ultrasonic irradiation direction of the probe 10 may not coincide with the compression direction. FIG. 3 (c) is a view of the short axis direction of the probe 10 without the compression plate. Since the width of the probe 10 in the short axis direction is about 1 cm and the compression surface is not fixed, the ultrasonic irradiation direction 160 is swung. Therefore, it is difficult for the ultrasonic irradiation direction 160 and the compression direction 162 to coincide with each other. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), by increasing the surface area of the compression surface, the direction in which the subject 5 is compressed by the probe 10 is perpendicular to the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface 11. The subject 5 is compressed so that the ultrasonic scanning direction 160 and the compression direction 162 coincide with each other. Therefore, an elastic image can be obtained stably.
It should be noted that, as in the first embodiment, the probe may be configured to include the compression plate of this embodiment in advance.

(Fourth embodiment)
In the compression version 152 of the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b), the compression force is strong at the central portion 156, but the compression force may decrease at the end portion 154. Therefore, although the elastic image is clearly displayed in the deep region of the central portion 156, the elastic image may be disturbed in the deep region of the end portion 154.

  Therefore, a fourth embodiment of the present invention as an improvement of the third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 (d) and 3 (e). FIG. 3 (d) is a view of the long axis direction of the compression plate 158 and the probe 10 for compressing the subject 5. FIG. FIG. 3 (e) is a view of the compression plate 158 and the probe 10 viewed in the short axis direction.

  The difference from the third embodiment is that the compression plate 158 has a cup shape that curves toward the subject in both the short axis direction and the long axis direction so as to wrap around the observation site 150. By using this compression plate 158, the compression force is strengthened not only at the center portion 162 but also at the end portion 160. The principle of this compression is the same as in FIG. 2A of the first embodiment, and the displacement vector is directed inward (that is, the center side of the probe 10) in the end region 160, and in the deep region. The direction is the same as the compression direction. Further, in the central region 162, the stress loss is reduced because it is compressed inward (that is, the central portion side of the probe 10) by the displacement vector 102 in the end region, and it is sufficiently large even in the deep region. The stress is given. As a result, an appropriate elastic image can be obtained. The compression plate 158 may have a spherical shape, an elliptical shape, or a substantially conical shape that is in close contact with the body surface shape of the observation site of the subject 5.

As described above, the compression direction is kept perpendicular to the surface with which the probe is in contact, so that the area of the elastic image displayed on the image display unit 24 becomes wider in the long axis direction or the depth direction. Therefore, since the elastic image that is normally displayed becomes wide, the image diagnosis can be performed efficiently.
It should be noted that, as in the first embodiment, the probe may be configured to include the compression plate of this embodiment in advance.

(Fifth embodiment)
Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 4 (a) and 4 (b) are views of the compression plate 200 for compressing the subject 5 and the major axis direction of the probe 10. FIG. An observation site 206 of the subject 5 indicates, for example, a part of the neck. The difference from the first to fourth embodiments is that a deformable member 208 made of a material capable of efficiently transmitting ultrasonic waves is inserted between the compression plate 200 and the observation site 206 of the subject 5. Is a point.

  FIG. 4 (a) is shown in order to clarify the effect of the invention of this embodiment. In the absence of the deformable member 208 shown in FIG. 4 (a), a gap is formed between the observation site 206 of the subject 5 and the compression plate 200. For this reason, the central region 204 is normally compressed by the compression plate 200, but since there is a gap in the end region, the end region is not tightly pressed.

  In FIG. 4 (b), the gap region 202 is filled with the deformable member 208. The deformable member 208 is made of a gel material that allows ultrasonic waves to pass through, and is attached to the surface of the compression plate 200. By using the deformable member 208, the gap region 202 generated in FIG. 4A is filled, and the compression plate 200 is in close contact with the observation site 206 of the subject 5 through the deformable member 208. Therefore, the subject 5 can be evenly pressed to the inside (that is, the central portion side of the probe 10) with the compression plate 200 in close contact with the subject 5. Therefore, as in the above-described embodiments, the area of the elastic image 108 displayed on the image display unit 24 is widened in the depth direction. That is, by using the deformable member, the elastic image that is normally displayed in the deep part even in a narrow part compared to the long axis width of the probe 5 such as the observation part 206 of the subject 5 becomes wide. Image diagnosis can be performed efficiently.

  As an example of the deformable member 208, an existing product such as an acoustic coupling polymer gel “Sonagel” (manufactured by Takiron Co., Ltd.) may be used. Moreover, you may interpose the bag containing a liquid. Furthermore, these variable shape members may be fixed to the compression plate, and the compression plate and the variable shape member may be configured as a set of units.

(Sixth embodiment)
Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a view of the major axis direction of the compression plate 250 and the convex probe 11 for compressing the body surface of the subject 5 having a convex shape. The difference from the first to fifth embodiments is that a compression plate 250 suitable for a convex probe 11 which is a kind of the probe 10 is provided. The lower surface of the compression plate 250 has a surface that substantially matches the curvature of the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface of the convex probe 11. For example, a compression plate having a convex curved surface as shown in FIG. 1D (d). That is, the lower surface of the compression plate 250, which is a contact surface with the subject 5, has a surface that is substantially the same shape as the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface of the convex probe 11, and has a convex shape on the subject 5 side. Yes. Therefore, the convex probe 11 and the lower surface of the compression plate 250 can be brought into close contact with the subject 5 to press the subject 5, and even with the convex probe 11, an elastic image can be efficiently displayed. Can be made.
It should be noted that, as in the first embodiment, the probe may be configured to include the compression plate of this embodiment in advance.

(Seventh embodiment)
Next, a seventh embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 (a) is an external view of a transrectal ultrasonic probe. When the examiner grasps the probe grasping portion 302 and inserts the in-vivo insertion portion 300 into the rectum of the subject, the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface comes into contact with the rectal inner surface of the subject 5. The intracorporeal insertion unit 300 includes a biplane type ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 304 and an ultrasonic transmission / reception unit 306. Based on the reflected echo signals received from the respective ultrasonic transmission / reception units, a monochrome tomographic image and a color elastic image Is generated. Further, as shown in Patent Document 2, a compression mechanism is provided in the probe, and a switch (not shown) as an interface for operating the compression mechanism is provided in the probe gripping portion 302, The examiner may control the compression of the inner surface of the rectum by operating a switch with a finger of a hand holding the probe gripping portion 302.
WO 2004/105615 Publication

  6 (b) and 6 (c) are views of the short axis direction and the long axis direction of the transrectal ultrasound probe, respectively. In this embodiment, a bag 315 is attached to the outside of an existing transrectal ultrasound probe by a fixing belt 314 and connected to a pump (external to the subject, not shown) connected via a tube 312. ) Causes liquid (water, physiological saline, etc.) to be supplied to or discharged from the bag 315, so that the bag 315 is inflated or contracted, so that pressure is directly applied to the rectal inner surface of the subject 5.

  When the back 315 in contact with the rectum of the subject 5 and the prostate 308 is inflated, the state becomes as shown in FIG. 3 (b), and the object can be compressed over a larger area than the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface, so the deep region is efficient. Compression is possible. In addition, since the back 315 expands in the direction perpendicular to the ultrasonic transmission / reception surface at any position (normal direction), uniform compression is applied to the subject 5 at any position in the azimuth direction. And uniformity of image quality can be improved.

(Eighth embodiment)
Next, an eighth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7A is a view of the compression plate for compressing the subject 5 and the major axis direction of the probe 10. FIG. 7B is a view of the compression plate and the probe 10 viewed from the short axis direction. The difference from the above-described embodiments is that the side surface of the probe 10 is provided with a structure in which the end portion (second member) of the compression plate is divided into a plurality of parts and can be opened and closed. In other words, both sides of the short axis of the probe 10 are provided with collapsible compression plate ends 51-a and 51-b, respectively, and both sides of the long axis of the probe 10 are possible. Inverted compression plate ends 52-a and 52-b are provided. The compression plate end portions 51-a and 51-b have the same width as the width of the probe 10 in the short axis direction, and the compression plate end portions 52-a and 52-b It has the same width as the major axis. The contact surface of the compression plate end with the subject may be planar or curved, but FIG. 7 shows an example having a curved surface that is concave on the subject 5 side. Also, one end of each compression plate end is connected to the side surface of the flat portion (first member) 50 via a hinge or the like so as to be able to fall. The flat portion 50 is formed to extend to the side surface in the vicinity of the acoustic lens of the probe 10, that is, the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving surface 11. Note that the opening and closing of each end of the compression plate may be independent or linked to each other.

  When the compression plate is not used, as shown in FIGS. 7 (a) and 7 (b), each end of the compression plate is folded to the probe 10 side. Similar to a probe that does not include a compression plate, it is used in contact with the subject 5. On the other hand, the state when the compression plate is used is shown in FIGS. FIG. 7 (c) is a view of the major axis direction of the compression plate and the probe 10 in a state where the end portion of the compression plate is widened. FIG. 7 (d) is a diagram when the short axis direction of the compression plate and the probe 10 is viewed in a state where the end portion of the compression plate is widened. The end portions 51-a and 51-b and 52-a and 52-b of the compression plate are fixed to the subject 5 side at an angle θ from the side surface of the probe 10, and together with the flat portion 50, the compression plate Form the whole. This angle θ is preferably variable according to the curved surface shape of the body surface of the subject. For example, it can be realized by a structure in which an appropriate angle can be selected and fixed from a plurality of preset angles. Can do. Specifically, in the case of the linear probe 10 shown in FIG. 7, the angle θ is 90 degrees or more in order to press the subject tissue toward the inside (that is, the center side of the probe 10). Is preferred. In the convex probe as shown in FIG. 5, the angle θ at which the end of the compression plate on the side surface of the short axis is tilted is preferably less than 90 degrees. On the other hand, it is preferable that the end portion of the compression plate on the long axis side surface of the convex probe is divided into a plurality of portions in the long axis direction and fixed by being tilted 90 degrees or more from the long axis side surface of the probe. .

  As described above, according to the compression plate structure of the present embodiment, the elasticity image of the same part can be obtained by expanding the compression plate end portion during the tomographic image acquisition while omitting the trouble of separately mounting the compression plate. In contrast, the tomographic image of the same part can be continuously captured by folding the end of the compression plate while the elastic image is being captured. Will be able to.

(Ninth embodiment)
Next, a ninth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIGS. 8 (a) and 8 (b) are views of the major axis direction of the compression plate 100 and the probe 10 for compressing the subject 5. FIG. A difference from the above-described embodiments is that a puncture guide portion having a guide hole for guiding the puncture needle through the compression plate is provided in the compression plate. FIG. 8 shows an example using the same compression plate 100 as in FIG. 2 (a). However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is possible to provide a puncture guide portion on compression plates of other shapes.
As shown in FIG. 8 (a), the compression plate 100 includes a puncture guide portion 60 on the side surface of the probe on the short axis side. A guide hole 62 for guiding the puncture needle 61 is provided at the center of the puncture guide section 60 so as to penetrate the compression plate. By inserting the puncture needle 61 through the guide hole 62, A puncture needle 61 is inserted into the specimen 5. FIG. 8B shows an example in which the puncture needle 61 is inserted into the guide hole 62 of the puncture guide portion 60 and inserted to the puncture site 63 of the subject 5. Note that FIG. 8 shows an example in which the puncture guide portion 60 is provided on one short-axis side surface side of the probe 10, but the short-axis side surface on the opposite side or any major axis It may be provided on the side surface or at a plurality of locations.

The puncture guide unit 60 has a mechanism that can change the guide angle of the puncture needle 61 corresponding to the position of the puncture site 63 (for example, a plurality of guide holes having different angles as disclosed in Patent Document 3 are provided). Then, it may be arranged on the compression plate 100. When the puncture site 63 is in the deep part, the puncture needle 61 is fixed close to the short-axis side surface of the probe 10 so that the guide angle becomes small with respect to the short-axis side surface of the probe 10. On the contrary, when the puncture site 63 is in the remaining portion, the puncture needle 61 is fixed away from the short axis side surface of the probe 10 so that the guide angle becomes larger with respect to the short axis side surface of the probe 10.
In addition, it is the same as in the first embodiment that the probe may have a configuration in which a compression plate having the puncture guide portion of this embodiment is provided in advance.

As described above, according to the compression plate structure of the present embodiment, the compression plate can be punctured without getting in the way, and can be punctured appropriately guided. Image diagnosis and puncture treatment and tissue diagnosis can be performed efficiently.
JP-A-8-617

(Tenth embodiment)
Next, a tenth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 shows a transrectal ultrasound probe similar to FIG. FIG. 9 (a) is a view of the long axis direction of the transrectal ultrasound probe. FIG. 9B is a view of the short axis direction viewed from the distal end of the in-body insertion portion 300. FIG. FIG. 9 (c) is a view of the long axis direction of the body insertion portion 300 in particular. The transrectal ultrasound probe shown in FIG. 9 is similar to the transrectal ultrasound probe shown in FIG. 300 has an ultrasonic transmission / reception surface on which biplane ultrasonic transmission / reception units 304 and 306 are installed.

  The housing on the ultrasound transmitting / receiving unit side of the body insertion part 300 also functions as the first member of the compression plate, and on both side surfaces of the body insertion part 300, movable compression plate end portions (second Member) 315-a and 315-b. One end of each compression plate is movably connected to the side surface of the body insertion portion 300 via a hinge. Further, the surfaces of the compression plate end portions 315-a and 315-b on the body insertion portion side are joined to the bag portions 316-a and 316-b, respectively. The bag portion 316 is joined to the compression plate end portion 315 and the in-body insertion portion 300, and is disposed between them. Then, by injecting liquid or gas into the bag portion 316, the compression plate end portion 315 is pushed and expanded, and the state shown in FIGS. 9 (b) and 9 (c) is reached, and the liquid or gas is discharged from the bag portion 316. As a result, the compression plate end 315 is folded and stored in the dotted line position shown in FIGS. 9 (b) and 9 (c). The bag portion 316 is connected to a pump (not shown) disposed outside the subject via a tube 312, and liquid or gas is injected into and discharged from the bag portion 316 by this pump.

Before the in-body insertion portion 300 is inserted into the rectum of the subject 5, the compression plate end portions 315 are folded so that the in-body insertion portion 300 has a substantially cylindrical shape and is easily inserted. After the intracorporeal insertion portion 300 is inserted into the rectum and the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving surface is brought into contact with the inner surface of the rectum, liquid or gas is injected into the bag portion 316 and the compression plate end portion 315 is expanded. The pressed plate end portion 315 that has been spread widens the contact area with the inner surface of the rectum and enables effective compression of the inner surface of the rectum. After the imaging is finished, the liquid plate or the gas is discharged from the bag portion 316, whereby the compression plate end portion 315 is folded and returned to the original position. In this state, the body insertion part 300 is taken out of the rectum.
It should be noted that a wide contact surface may be formed by compressing the bag 316 by having only the bag 316 without the compression plate end 315, and compressing the rectal inner surface.

  As described above, according to the compression plate structure of the present embodiment, the transrectal ultrasound probe is provided with the compression plate end, thereby facilitating insertion / removal into the rectum and in the rectum. Since it is possible to efficiently perform compression in the rectum, image diagnosis of the rectum can be performed efficiently.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the compression member, the ultrasonic probe, and the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus of the present invention are not limited to the contents disclosed in the description of the above-described embodiments, and the gist of the present invention. Other forms can be taken based on this.
For example, in the description of each of the above embodiments, regarding the compression on the subject 5, the examiner presses the subject 5 while performing fine adjustment manually while looking at the elastic image displayed on the image display unit 24. Alternatively, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 2, a compression motor may be attached to the probe 10, and the subject 5 may be automatically compressed by driving the motor. When compression is performed by driving the motor, the operation of driving the motor may be controlled depending on the type of the compression plate.
Also, when using a compression plate with a steep slope at the end, when the probe 10 is moved up and down largely or a relatively small compression plate is used so that the elastic image of the deep region can be displayed efficiently The probe 10 is vibrated finely.
In the description of each of the above embodiments, the form in which the compression plate is removable from the probe 10 and the form in which the probe and the compression plate are integrally formed have been described. It is also possible to do.
Further, in the description of the several embodiments described above, it is assumed that the acoustic lens of the probe 10, that is, the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving surface 11 is arranged on the compression plate, and that a hole is opened in a part (for example, the central portion). However, if the compression plate is configured using a member that transmits ultrasonic waves, it is not necessary to provide a hole in the compression plate.

Claims (22)

In a compression member that is detachably attached to the ultrasound probe and compresses the subject, a compression force is applied in a direction parallel to the compression direction with respect to the subject in order to acquire an elastic image of the subject. A first member that transmits the pressure , and the first member is inclined with respect to the first member in the short axis direction or the long axis direction of the compression member, and a compression force is applied in a direction different from the compression direction of the first member. And a hole is formed in the approximate center of the first member so that the transmitting / receiving surface of the ultrasonic probe contacts the subject. Compression member.   2. The compression member according to claim 1, wherein the second member is formed to extend to an end portion of the first member.   3. The compression member according to claim 2, wherein the direction different from the compression direction is a direction facing a central portion side of the first member so as to transmit the compression force in a direction crossing the compression direction. Characteristic compression member.   3. The compression member according to claim 2, wherein the second member is compressed in a direction that prevents a part of the subject compressed by the first member from being pushed out in a direction different from the compression direction. A compression member formed.   4. The compression member according to claim 3, wherein the first member has a first surface perpendicular to the compression direction, and the second member is a second surface perpendicular to a direction different from the compression direction. A compression member characterized by comprising: In a compression member that is detachably attached to an ultrasound probe and compresses a subject, the compression member has a first surface perpendicular to the compression direction with respect to the subject, and is in a direction parallel to the compression direction. A first member for transmitting a compression force; and a second surface perpendicular to the direction different from the compression direction in the short axis direction or the long axis direction of the compression member, and the compression direction of the first member. And a second member that transmits a compression force in a different direction, wherein at least one of the first surface and the second surface is formed to be a flat surface.   6. The compression member according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the first surface and the second surface is formed such that at least a part thereof has a concave shape that smoothly changes. Element.   8. The compression member according to claim 7, wherein the first surface and the second surface are integrally formed to have a concave shape that smoothly changes.   6. The compression member according to claim 5, wherein at least one of the first surface and the second surface is formed so that at least a part thereof has a convex shape that smoothly changes. Element.   6. The compression member according to claim 5, wherein the second member is formed so as to be along at least one of the minor axis direction and the major axis direction of the first member. Compression member.   11. The compression member according to claim 10, wherein a surface of the second surface formed along the minor axis direction of the compression member faces the central portion side in the major axis direction of the compression member. The surface formed to be inclined with respect to the surface of 1 and formed along the major axis direction of the compression member in the second surface is directed to the central portion side in the minor axis direction of the compression member. A compression member characterized by being inclined with respect to the first surface.   2. The compression member according to claim 1, further comprising a guide portion that has a guide hole for guiding the puncture needle through the compression member. 6. The compression member according to claim 5 , attached to the ultrasonic probe, wherein the first surface has a surface parallel to an ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving surface of the ultrasonic probe, and the second surface. Is formed so as to have a surface facing the central portion side of the ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving surface. In an ultrasonic probe including a compression unit that compresses a subject, the compression unit applies a compression force to the subject in a direction parallel to the compression direction in order to acquire an elastic image of the subject. The first member to be transmitted and the first member in the minor axis direction or the major axis direction are inclined with respect to the first member, and the compression force is applied in a direction different from the compression direction of the first member. And a hole is formed in the approximate center of the first member so that the transmitting / receiving surface of the ultrasonic probe contacts the subject. Ultrasonic probe.   15. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 14, wherein the first member is formed to extend on a side surface of the ultrasonic probe, and the second member is an end portion of the first member. An ultrasonic probe, characterized in that it is formed to extend to.   16. The ultrasound probe according to claim 15, wherein the first member has a first surface parallel to an ultrasound transmission / reception surface of the ultrasound probe, and the second member is the ultrasound probe. An ultrasonic probe characterized by having a second surface formed so as to face the central portion side of the sound wave transmitting / receiving surface.   17. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 16, wherein the second member has a movable connection portion and is connected to an end portion of the first member, and is folded on a side surface side of the ultrasonic probe. An ultrasonic probe characterized by being formed.   15. The ultrasound probe according to claim 14, further comprising an in-vivo insertion portion that is inserted into a body cavity of the subject, wherein the first member is formed integrally with a housing of the in-vivo insertion portion, The ultrasonic probe according to claim 2, wherein the second member is formed so as to be foldable on a side surface in the short axis direction of the in-vivo insertion portion.   19. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 18, further comprising a bag portion between the compression portion and a side surface in a short axis direction of the in-vivo insertion portion, and the compression by injecting liquid or gas into the bag portion. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 1, wherein the pressing portion is folded when the portion is expanded and the liquid or gas is discharged from the bag portion.   19. The ultrasonic probe according to claim 18, wherein the compression portion includes a guide portion having a guide hole for guiding the puncture needle through the compression portion. Sonic probe. Based on the ultrasonic probe having an ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving surface that repeatedly transmits ultrasonic waves to a subject and receives time-series reflected echo signals corresponding to the transmission of the ultrasonic waves, and the time-series reflected echo signals A tomographic image forming unit for forming a tomographic image of the biological tissue of the subject, and measuring a displacement of the biological tissue of the subject based on the time-series reflected echo signal to obtain elastic information to form an elastic image In an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: an elastic image forming unit; and a display unit that displays an image formed by the tomographic image forming unit and the elastic image forming unit;
The ultrasonic probe includes a compression unit that compresses the subject, and the compression unit transmits a compression force to the subject in a direction parallel to the compression direction, and the compression An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: a second member that transmits a pressing force in a direction different from the direction.   The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the compression part is a compression member having a fixing part for being detachably attached to the ultrasonic probe, and is separated from the ultrasonic probe. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising: a housing portion that houses the compression member.

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